05/16/13

Zephaniah 3:14-17

The purpose of Holy Scripture is to inform, warn, convict, exhort, encourage,  and comfort. When it seems as if all is lost, and there appears to be no end to the sadness and hunger within you–depend on God’s Word to comfort you through His Holy Spirit. All knowledge is His, therefore depend on His wisdom to lead and deliver you.   Zephaniah 3:14-17

 

Charlene

 

 

Sing, Daughter Zion; shout aloud, Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
Daughter Jerusalem!
15 The Lord has taken away your punishment,
he has turned back your enemy.
The Lord, the King of Israel, is with you;
never again will you fear any harm.
16 On that day
they will say to Jerusalem,
“Do not fear, Zion;
do not let your hands hang limp.
17 The Lord your God is with you,
the Mighty Warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you;
in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
but will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

 

Scripture retrieved  from www. Bible Gateway.com

12/2/11

Psalm 27 A Psalm of Trust and Faith

This Psalm of David eloquently speaks for itself. It is a heart cry to God to watch over, protect, and defend his own. I thank God for His gift of Scripture, as it gives us opportunity to  share in the Psalmist’s adoration and praise to the King of Glory.  Charlene

 

Psalm 27 

  

New International Version (NIV)

Of David.

 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation—
   whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
   of whom shall I be afraid?

 2 When the wicked advance against me
   to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
   who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
   my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
   even then I will be confident.

 4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
   this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
   all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
   and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
   he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
   and set me high upon a rock.

 6 Then my head will be exalted
   above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
   I will sing and make music to the LORD.

 7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
   be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
   Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
   do not turn your servant away in anger;
   you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
   God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
   the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
   lead me in a straight path
   because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
   for false witnesses rise up against me,
   spouting malicious accusations.

 13 I remain confident of this:
   I will see the goodness of the LORD
   in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
   be strong and take heart
   and wait for the LORD.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 27:2 Or slander
 
 
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica

10/10/11

Psalm 38 A Miktam of David The King

Do you relate to this Psalm? I certainly do because it speaks to me as if David were here today and aware of the trials I go through. I am so grateful that God’s Holy Spirit inspired David to pen his prayers and petition. Man is unreliable and judgmental, and cannot be depended upon to treat you as a child of  The King. There is too much pharisitical behavior, unneighborliness, and constant control exercised over God’s people.

The Psalmist sees affliction here as a result of sin, and God does allow us to go through trials when we make poor decisions–but we can always be assured that when we ask for forgiveness grace is granted to us. God is our deliverer and our shield.  Man can only do to us what God allows, and as children of the Most High GOD, He is ever faithful to protect us.

 

Psalm 38

New International Version (NIV)

    A Psalm of David. A petition.

 1 LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger
   or discipline me in your wrath.
2 Your arrows have pierced me,
   and your hand has come down on me.
3 Because of your wrath there is no health in my body;
   there is no soundness in my bones because of my sin.
4 My guilt has overwhelmed me
   like a burden too heavy to bear.

 5 My wounds fester and are loathsome
   because of my sinful folly.
6 I am bowed down and brought very low;
   all day long I go about mourning.
7 My back is filled with searing pain;
   there is no health in my body.
8 I am feeble and utterly crushed;
   I groan in anguish of heart.

 9 All my longings lie open before you, Lord;
   my sighing is not hidden from you.
10 My heart pounds, my strength fails me;
   even the light has gone from my eyes.
11 My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds;
   my neighbors stay far away.
12 Those who want to kill me set their traps,
   those who would harm me talk of my ruin;
   all day long they scheme and lie.

 13 I am like the deaf, who cannot hear,
   like the mute, who cannot speak;
14 I have become like one who does not hear,
   whose mouth can offer no reply.
15 LORD, I wait for you;
   you will answer, Lord my God.
16 For I said, “Do not let them gloat
   or exalt themselves over me when my feet slip.”

 17 For I am about to fall,
   and my pain is ever with me.
18 I confess my iniquity;
   I am troubled by my sin.
19 Many have become my enemies without cause[b];
   those who hate me without reason are numerous.
20 Those who repay my good with evil
   lodge accusations against me,
   though I seek only to do what is good.

 21 LORD, do not forsake me;
   do not be far from me, my God.
22 Come quickly to help me,
   my Lord and my Savior.

05/20/11

Psalm 64

Psalm 64 (New International Version)

Satan walks around seeking who he can devour. We have to continually look to Jesus, our Savior, for strength, guidance, and Godly relationship. When it seems as if all things are coming against you, remember whose child you are and let God’s Holy Spirit bring comfort into your life.

Charlene

Psalm 64

Psalm 64[a]

    For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
   protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

 2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
   from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
   and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
   they shoot suddenly, without fear.

 5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
   they talk about hiding their snares;
   they say, “Who will see it[b]?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
   “We have devised a perfect plan!”
   Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

 7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
   they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
   and bring them to ruin;
   all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
   they will proclaim the works of God
   and ponder what he has done.

 10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD
   and take refuge in him;
   all the upright in heart will glory in him!
 

Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us

Charlene’s Source: Bible Gateway  Holy Scriptures  NIV Version

03/13/11

Psalm 64 A Psalm of David

As Christians we must always be aware of spiritual warfare. The church is comprised of human beings, and, as in David’s Psalm below, the enemy of God’s saints is ever seeking whom he can devour. Gird up your loins in the Name of Jesus and fight for what you know is right.  Accuse no brethren or sisters but forgive all things as Christ forgives you.   Charlene

Psalm 64 (New International Version, ©2011)

 

Psalm 64

Psalm 64[a]

    For the director of music. A psalm of David.

 1 Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint;
   protect my life from the threat of the enemy.

 2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked,
   from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords
   and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent;
   they shoot suddenly, without fear.

 5 They encourage each other in evil plans,
   they talk about hiding their snares;
   they say, “Who will see it[b]?”
6 They plot injustice and say,
   “We have devised a perfect plan!”
   Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.

 7 But God will shoot them with his arrows;
   they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them
   and bring them to ruin;
   all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear;
   they will proclaim the works of God
   and ponder what he has done.

 10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD
   and take refuge in him;
   all the upright in heart will glory in him!

 

Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 64:1 In Hebrew texts 64:1-10 is numbered 64:2-11.
  2. Psalm 64:5 Or us

Credit: Bible Gateway  www.biblegateway.com